Read a novel by Mr. Shute in which the main characters arrive in a sail boat in Tahiti after crossing from Hawaii and the authorities question the skipper as to how he had got there as he had no radio, or charts, or navigation instruments. He said that his mother had been born in Tahiti and his father was a sailor and he always wanted to go back and see where she came from. The French asked him if his mother or father had taught him navigation and its secrets, he said, "Nah, I just followed the airplanes!". I think it was called "Trustee from the Tool room" if I remember right.

I have seen pictures of wave pattern maps made of string and twigs that showed how the islands would distort the waves and they used to find land when they were brought close enough by the stars and that they also used the flight patterns of some birds. They were experts at all the little details in their environment that we no longer know how to read

I have seen pictures of wave pattern maps made of string and twigs that showed how the islands would distort the waves and they used to find land when they were brought close enough by the stars and that they also used the flight patterns of some birds. They were experts at all the little details in their environment that we no longer know how to read

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Sounds a lot like a good tracker. Use multiple sources, to build a complete picture in your mind, and confirm your theory with each new data point.

“Man’s mind is his basic tool of survival. Life is given to him, survival is not. His body is given to him, its sustenance is not. His mind is given to him, its content is not. To remain alive, he must act, and before he can act he must know the nature and purpose of his action. He cannot obtain his food without a knowledge of food and of the way to obtain it. He cannot dig a ditch-or build a cyclotron-without a knowledge of his aim and of the means to achieve it. To remain alive, he must think." John Galt (Ayn Rand)

Patents are not evil, profit is not a dirty word, providing for your family's future is not a sin, and what is mine is not your's just because you want it. Kellory.I have received NO secret government orders.(Watch for this notice to be removed)

You are totally right. In fact a really good tracker may not even realize all the little details he is observing. He is so in tune with the environment, that he notices what isn't there as well as what is.

Tracking is one of my best hunting skills. I find what others have lost. Most folks couldn't track muddy footprints across an open parkinglot. Most track only by blood, and ignore traces, such as hair, transfer, scat, leaf placement, grasses show travel direction, prints. You can even tell the sex from the bedding area. (Observation )

“Man’s mind is his basic tool of survival. Life is given to him, survival is not. His body is given to him, its sustenance is not. His mind is given to him, its content is not. To remain alive, he must act, and before he can act he must know the nature and purpose of his action. He cannot obtain his food without a knowledge of food and of the way to obtain it. He cannot dig a ditch-or build a cyclotron-without a knowledge of his aim and of the means to achieve it. To remain alive, he must think." John Galt (Ayn Rand)

Patents are not evil, profit is not a dirty word, providing for your family's future is not a sin, and what is mine is not your's just because you want it. Kellory.I have received NO secret government orders.(Watch for this notice to be removed)

They learn to navigate by reading the stars and sky. And also by reading the ocean.

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Yes, but they used tools as well: a conch shell with a hole drilled in one side would form a natural level when filled with water, and the location of the hole would determine the angle at which a navigator knew he was at the proper latitude when sighting the North Star. After that, he would turn east or west, and stay at that latitude until he arrived. Thus, they sometimes navigated in triangles, over thousands of miles, and set a standard for practical steerage which Bowditch admired.

Yes, but they used tools as well: a conch shell with a hole drilled in one side would form a natural level when filled with water, and the location of the hole would determine the angle at which a navigator knew he was at the proper latitude when sighting the North Star. After that, he would turn east or west, and stay at that latitude until he arrived. Thus, they sometimes navigated in triangles, over thousands of miles, and set a standard for practical steerage which Bowditch admired.

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Was not disagreeing with you on instruments. I wouldn't know enough about that. Just saying their main navigation is from their understanding of and ability to read the heavens, oceans, winds and nature.